'That was really necessary' - CeeDee Lamb explains why Brian Schottenheimer's punishment for Cowboys players carries huge meaning

Getting players to run sprints as a form of punishment is common in college, high school, and lower levels of football. But in the NFL? Where practice reps are limited to the point where coaches meticulously calculate what the team does in each? Where the minimum salary for a player is $840,000? It's a rarity.

"It's been a while," Lamb told reporters when asked about the last time he was a part of a practice that was cut short.

However, Lamb approves of Schottenheimer's decision and explained why it was an important one.

"I feel like that was really necessary," Lamb added. "Honestly, I like what (Schottenheimer) is doing because we need discipline. We need to be able to walk that line. We need to have that availability to the team and that aggressiveness at the same time. Be mad and fight between the whistles, and then as soon as the whistle blows, it's like, 'Alright, let’s line it up again. I’ll see you on the next play.' We need that kind of energy—not just 'We’re going to get it done right here, right now,' no matter what. So shoutout to Schotty for that. As for us, we just have to be the best group we can be."

When the All-Pro wide receiver says the team needs discipline, he's speaking from experience. To Lamb's point,from 2021 to 2024, the Cowboys never ranked lower than sixth in total flags, twice leading the NFL, including last year, per NFLpenalties.com.

For Schottenheimer, that's a big area of opportunity as he replaces Mike McCarthy as head coach. He's making sure his team understands the importance of getting it right.

"Do you want to be champions?" said Lamb when asked what had been the PG version of Schottenheimer's message to the team. "Because throughout the years of us being here, talent was never the problem. It was always discipline. How do we get ahead and not fall behind? You know what I’m saying? How do we avoid shooting ourselves in the foot? How do we make sure we’re not hurting ourselves—especially when the momentum is going our way?"

The Cowboys will practice again on Thursday at 11:45 a.m. PT. Let's see if this time they can make it through the end.